Chapter 164 - 164: These Are My Battle Scars!
The Substitute Bride: Indulged by the Obsessive CEO
Translator: Nyoi-Bo Studio Editor: Nyoi-Bo Studio
At school when Tang Beibei ended the call with Lu Linlin, Ruan Qi saw her sullen expression and wanted to comfort her.
Tang Beibei took a few deep breaths to calm herself down.
âLetâs practice. Itâs not worth the pain to waste time on such small matters.â
Ruan Qi said consolingly, âAlthough 1 agree with you, no one will be happy when they are insulted for no reason. Besides, donât expect too much of yourself. Itâs fine to relax a little occasionally.â
Tang Beibei had already put down her phone, ready to play their dance music. âIâm not expecting too much of myself. 1 just feel that they made these videos to upset me so that they can watch me cry miserably after Iâm insulted by complete strangers. I canât let them have their way.â
âThere are people who love me and dote on me, and there are people who hate me, scold me, humiliate me, and even slander me. Itâs laughable to waste my precious time on the latter.â
Ruan Qi was stunned and clicked her tongue.
âBeibei, 1 realized that your mindset has improved a lot since you and your husband got together.â
Tang Beibei nodded with a smile. She couldnât help but sigh, âIâve never thought about what itâs like to love someone, but my husband always tells me that Iâm great and deserve better treatment.â
âI also want to treat him well. Now, letâs practice so 1 can go back and spend more time with him when we are done.â
Tang Beibei smiled happily at the thought of her husband.
Ruan Qi shook off the goosebumps on her body and couldnât help but grumble, âSigh, when people fall in love, their IQusually dropped to zero but youâre an exception. Not only have you become more confident after falling in love, but your EQhas also improved a lot. What your husband feeds you isnât a love potion but an IQenhancing potion.â
Tang Beibei covered her mouth and laughed. She didnât care what her husband fed her. Whatever he gave her was fragrant, sweet, and delicious.
The gloominess they felt just now disappeared after the two of them chatted. They continued practicing their dance.
If Jiang Jingchen hadnât called to remind Tang Beibei and the two of them looked out the window, they wouldnât have realized that it was getting late.
Tang Beibei was upset when she told him that she would pack up quickly and go home, but Jiang Jingchen said, âDonât worry, 1 brought dinner for two. For you and your friend.â
Tang Beibei was surprised. âYouâre in my school?â
âWell, I couldnât wait for you, so I came here. 1 can walk by myself now.â
Tang Beibei laughed when she heard the pride in his tone. She assumed that he wanted to walk more since his legs had recovered, so she didnât say anything more and went to meet him outside the dance studio.
Seeing him with the lunchboxes, she quickly walked up to him and held his arm.
âHow did you know that there are two of us?â
Jiang Jingchen pinched her cheek. âYou only forget the time when youâre practicing dance. The only person who would accompany you is Ruan Qi.â
Tang Beibei let out a silly giggle when she saw that he knew her so well.
When they walked into the dance studio, Ruan Qi saw that the man had really brought them dinner and had even personally opened Tang Beibeiâs lunchbox. He looked so considerate and gentle. She would be lying if she said that she was not envious.
Sigh, this was what legend said about other peopleâs husbands.
During dinner, Jiang Jingchen stood beside her and helped Tang Beibei tuck her hair behind her ears. Tang Beibei told him about her dancing.
She didnât know if Jiang Jingchen could understand her, but he still listened attentively and responded from time to time. He even said that he would record a video for her when they were home and help her find her faults.
Ruan Qi held her lunchbox and thought that she wasnât eating dinner but lovey-dovey treats that had been sprinkled all over the floor!
After dinner, Jiang Jingchen helped to clean up while the girls rested. He asked Tang Beibei if they would continue practicing in school and if so, he would wait for them here.
However, he added, âThe lighting here isnât good and there are only two of you. Iâm worried. Why donât you practice back at the home studio?â
Tang Beibei turned to look at Ruan Qi. âQiqi, why donât you come home with me?â
The dance studio in school was rather remote with little human traffic. It was indeed unsafe for Ruan Qi to be alone here.
Ruan Qi did not want to see their lovey-dovey anymore, so she said, âYou guys go ahead. Iâll be fine alone.â
Tang Beibei saw her insistence and didnât try to talk her out of it. She told Ruan Qi to call her if anything happened and left with Jiang Jingchen.
On the way back to the villa, Jiang Jingchen listened to Tang Beibei ramble on about her studies, but she didnât mention anything about what happened the other night.
He stroked her face gently as he said, âEverything you told me is happy news. Donât you have any unhappy news?â
Tang Beibei thought about what happened that night. If she told Jiang Jingchen, he would be angry. She might as well not tell him.
She wasnât a famous person. People just gathered and watched out of curiosity. After a few days, the news would be old, and she could pretend that nothing had happened.
âThere is also unhappy news.â
âWhat?â
âWhen we were practicing today, Qiqi fell but she carried on despite her injury. Iâm a little worried about her.â
Jiang Jingchen didnât expect her to say this. He sighed and said to her, âWeâll ask Song Zhou to pick her up later and send her home.â
âCan you, Song Zhou?â
Song Zhou, who was driving, cleared his throat. He suspected that his young master didnât want him to be a third wheel at home and wanted to send him away.
âYes, itâs not a big deal. Young Madam, donât worry. Iâll make sure that your friend gets home safely.â
Tang Beibei heaved a sigh of relief. âThatâs great. Thank you, Song Zhou.â
âYoung Madam, donât mention it.â He felt undeserving such great thanks.
That night, Song Zhou returned to school.
He saw that the lights in the dance studio were still on. The girl inside was still practicing her dance repeatedly. He didnât know which move she was unhappy with when she fell to the ground and lay there miserably, wiping her tears.
Song Zhou frowned and wanted to go in and help her up, but the girl wiped her tears away and got up again. She got up and rewound the music on her phone before she practiced the same move again.
She stood on the stage in the empty studio with a pale spotlight on her. She smiled along with the music and danced again.
However, she was still not satisfied. She stopped halfway, sat on the ground in a sorry and tired state and sobbed quietly.
She then rolled up her pant legs, rubbed her knees, and leaned her dejected head on her knees.
She said softly, âMy dear knees, canât you be more hardworking? Why is it that other people can execute this move, but you canât?â
Song Zhouâs heart ached when he heard the womanâs sobbing voice.
He cleared his throat and pushed open the door to the dance studio.
He saw the girl wipe her tears with her sleeve quickly when she realized that he was there. She was shocked.
âButler Song, what are you doing here? Did Beibei leave something behind?â
She got up and looked around, but she did not see Tang Beibeiâs things. âYoung Madam did leave something behind, but you wonât be able to find it.â
âWhat is it that I canât find?â
âItâs her worry. Sheâs asked me to send you home.â
Song Zhou packed up her cell phone and said, âYouâve been practicing hard all day. Go home and have a good rest.â
Ruan Qi was stunned. She smiled and sat on the floor again.
âI canât leave yet. I still havenât mastered the moves that Beibei has mastered. 1 donât want to fall behind.â
Song Zhou did not expect her to be so stubborn. âBut your legs are already injured.â
Ruan Qi did not mind. She rolled up her pant legs and looked at her bruised legs.. She pointed at them and said proudly, âThese are my battle scars!â